Page 38 - Pastoral Ministries -Student Textbook

Study Section 6: Shepherding and Leading His People

6.1 Connect

The Bible occasionally describes the congregation of a church as the “flock of God.” In other words,
it likens people to that of sheep. It also declares that there is a “Chief Shepherd” who is Jesus Christ
and there are many “shepherds” tending God’s sheep. Shepherding in Christ’s day was considered
lowly vocation. They were poorly paid and were looked down upon. Yet to the sheep, the shepherd
was the one who guided them to rich pastures and protected them from wolves and other enemies.
If they got lost, the shepherd would come and find them. It’s interesting that during the time of
Christ’s birth, God chose the shepherds as those who would come and worship and declare his entrance into the
world.

The pastor then is a shepherd. Just as the shepherds in Christ’s day cared, fed, protected, and ministered to
their sheep, so is the pastor commanded to do the same for the church. To be a competent pastor, you must
learn how to shepherd the sheep. That is today’s concentration….

6.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to state the position that the Bible gives to believers in every church.

2. The student should be able to state five ways how to properly shepherd God’s church.

3. The student should be able to describe the qualifications for the office of a deacon and how a pastor can best
work together with them in unity.

6.3 The Members of the Church are Due Respect

1. The Authority Resident in the Local Church

There is no higher authority on earth than the church of
Christ, meeting and acting as a composite body. Because the
church universal is Christ’s present manifestation on earth,
and the local church the physical embodiment of that church,
it may be concluded that the authority of Jesus is resident in the local
church. I see no biblical precedent for any ecclesiastical organization to exercise authority over the local
church. Therefore, just because a man is called to be the pastor of a local church, does not mean that he has
unlimited authority to dictate to that body. The pastor has only authority granted him by the local church.

I Peter 5:1-5 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of
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Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you,
exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid
gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to
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be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of
glory. You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility
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toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

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